This is a relatively quick one ahead of our FA Cup tie. I've not been able to blog in my spare time recently with work taking over my life though this has kept me occupied and not worrying about our season's collapse at least.
But if all goes to pot on Saturday our season will be kaput.
Ahead of the Everton tie, I wrote last week that I felt Everton would win. I guessed 2-0, but reality made it worse with the game actually ending 3-0 instead. I heard we were poor as the scoreline suggests, and again this weekend I will watch the game admittedly with lack of hope.
Wigan did the amazing in beating Manchester City to reach the semi finals, and will be right up for this one again. I'd like to think we are too but if we didn't exactly show up when it mattered in the big game against Everton, considering our positions in the league and what is might mean for European qualification.
We go into this semi-final tie the favourites as the bigger team, but I don't see us as favourites. Hopefully Ramsey will be a little sharper after his return from injury last week. We really need to see him play to the levels we saw prior to his long term injury!
Wilshere, Ozil, Diaby and Koscielny are definitely out (Diaby is set to return to full training next week assuming, that is, he has no further set backs...) and Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, and Gibbs are 50/50.
Fabianski will start in goal Wenger has also announced which is another opportunity for the Polish keeper to impress. He has been composed and played very well when used this season, and rightly should be forcing a claim to for the number one jersey, that is if he doesn't move away in the summer as have been the rumours.
Perhaps the biggest blow for us though is that Flamini is suspended. We always miss him in the defensive midfield role, and he has shown he can get forward too. With our other injuries and lack of forwards, we aren't getting forward quickly or creating too many threatening opportunities, while without Flamini's grit and leadership our defensive game is also lacking; not the mixture for success.
Whatever happens happens. But we are one game from the final and have another chance to grab a win at the new Wembley. The 2007 and 2011 League Cup finals suggest the stadium is a bad omen for us, but the players need some drive and inspiration from somewhere knowing the title challenge is practically over and our Champions League qualification hopes hang by a thread.
The FA Cup tie against Wigan on Saturday kicks off at 5:30pm (GMT), and is live on ITV. Enjoy the game if you can.
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